THE NEED TO BE TEACHING SEX EDUCATION IN NIGERIAN SCHOOLS

Sex education is defined as the teaching and learning of topics relating to sex and sexuality, exploring values and beliefs about these topics and gaining the skills that are needed to develop relationships and manage one’s own sexual health.

Another definition by, The European Expert Group explains sex education “as an education that aims to develop and strengthen the ability of children and young people to make conscious, satisfying, healthy and respectful choices regarding relationships, sexuality and emotional and physical health”.

Topics taught in sex education could include the following: Sexual intercourse, Reproduction, Puberty, Dating and romance, Child planning, Birth Control, Sexual orientation, Sexually transmitted infection(STI’s), Gender identity, Abstinence, How to use the condom, Sexuality throughout life and Gender roles diversity.

Accurate, balanced sex education – including information about contraception and condoms – is a basic human right of youth. Such education helps young people to reduce their risk of potentially negative outcomes, such as unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Sex Education can also help improve the quality of their relationships and assist in developing decision-making skills that will prove invaluable to life. For example, on the issue of the use of contraceptive, a lack of knowledge could lead to having an unwanted pregnancy, STIs, or both.

According to research conducted with children from 15–25 years, 30.5% of students have watched romantic movies, 37.6% students have read romantic materials and 60.1% of them have listened to romantic radio programs.These students are already learning about sex and romance through other means and this will be catastrophic which could lead to unwanted pregnancy, STIs, or both if sex education is not taught to them.

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